Life on the bench: in my dressing gown

[RichardCranium]

What a miserable day for finding a gig.

Diddley squat.

For the first time I can remember, there was nothing today I could apply for that was worth applying for.

That's not good.

[Zippy]

I didn't even look. That's not good either.

Pass the meths old chap.

[RichardCranium]

Pass the meths old chap.

There's plenty in the shed. Help yourself. It's quite dry in there, should you not feel in any urgent need to go on anywhere.

[OwlHoot]

What a miserable day for finding a gig.

Diddley squat.

For the first time I can remember, there was nothing today I could apply for that was worth applying for.

That's not good.

Same with perl - and when a contract does come along, literally four or five agents are fighting for it like a bunch of starving hyenas squabbling over a dead rat.

But don't despair, it's darkest before dawn - In two or three weeks things should start stirring a bit as we go into autumn (if we're not already there weatherwise).

What's your speciality BTW? Sounds to me like you may not be sufficiently "emphasising" the right skills on the CV you send for each application. You *do* send a different CV for each don't you?

[RichardCranium]

But don't despair, it's darkest before dawn

I have sat up all night often enough to know that isn't true. The middle of the night is darkest. By the time dawn begins, you could have finished a broadsheet crossword with the available light.

However, I know what you are getting at.

What's your speciality BTW?

Public sector project management with a (optional but preferred) particular interest in a very niche field that I shall keep to myself.

Sounds to me like you may not be sufficiently "emphasising" the right skills on the CV you send for each application. You *do* send a different CV for each don't you?

Indeed I do. Well, inasmuchas I can be arsed. A CV rewrite takes me about 8 hours. Tweaking it for a specific role takes about an hour. I hate changing my CV. It would help if I didn't have 20 years' experience to edit every time.

[pzz76077]

There's plenty in the shed. Help yourself. It's quite dry in there, should you not feel in any urgent need to go on anywhere.

...or there is wiskey in the jar, you must have mold growing somewhere by now???

PZZ

[RichardCranium]

Today we reach a second threshold.

We did the warchest sums a few months back when I was first benched and determined we needed to make a tough decision in July. So we made it. That was Threshold 1.

Today we collect the keys to a smaller house in a much cheaper part of the country.

So we had to get up so we can get some stuff together (2nd kettle, mugs, washing up bowl, etc.) and set off northward.

We shall be leaving behind this huge semi with views overlooking fields and streams and woods and farms. That is miles from civilisation, doesn't get real broadband (400k bits per sec) with an A-road out the front.

We shall be going to a terraced gaff with a dinky garden in a cul-de-sac in a quiet estate just outside a city with good road and rail access to the rest of the country. But the Missus can afford to pay the rent on her own while I keep looking for the next gig.

Not easy, this contracting lark, when the times are less good.

To make the move easier, we have an overlap on the two properties for a few weeks so we can organise the move and clean the house we are moving from. Sadly, it has very pale carpets in most rooms so I shall have to use a carpet cleaner on the entire house. Annoyingly, the worst marks were made by the letting agent's own plumber a week or so ago; he managed to get black grease smudges on the bathroom and e-suite carpets.

[milanbenes]

that my friend is business

very good that you are reacting to the situation instead of burying your head in the sand

all the best

Milan.

[OwlHoot]

Today we reach a second threshold.

We did the warchest sums a few months back when I was first benched and determined we needed to make a tough decision in July. So we made it. That was Threshold 1.

Today we collect the keys to a smaller house in a much cheaper part of the country. ...

and I bet the person who moved into your former house works in the public sector.

Just about sums up what is wrong with this country. (see my .sig)

[NickFitz]

Today we collect the keys to a smaller house in a much cheaper part of the country.

...

We shall be leaving behind this huge semi with views overlooking fields and streams and woods and farms. That is miles from civilisation, doesn't get real broadband (400k bits per sec) with an A-road out the front.

We shall be going to a terraced gaff with a dinky garden in a cul-de-sac in a quiet estate just outside a city with good road and rail access to the rest of the country. But the Missus can afford to pay the rent on her own while I keep looking for the next gig.

Not easy, this contracting lark, when the times are less good.

Bummer

Then again, variety is the spice of life, a change is as good as a rest, and other trite and meaningless aphorisms.

Good luck in the new place